WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today the inclusion of three new cancer types in the list of presumed service-connected disabilities due to military environmental exposure under the PACT Act. This move aligns with the Biden-Harris administration’s Unity Agenda and the Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative, aiming to support Veterans nationwide.
The newly included cancer types are male breast cancer, urethral cancer, and cancer of the paraurethral glands. This policy establishes presumptions of service connection for eligible Gulf War and post-9/11 Veterans who deployed to regions including Afghanistan, Somalia, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and the entire Southwest Asia theater of operations.
“We are working with urgency to deliver on the promise of the PACT Act to provide health care and benefits to as many toxic-exposed Veterans as possible — we’re leaning in wherever we can,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “VA is working with one goal in mind: getting today and tomorrow’s Veterans and their families the benefits they deserve as fast as possible.”
Veterans diagnosed with any of these cancers during or after military service may be entitled to disability compensation benefits retroactive to August 10, 2022—the date when the PACT Act was signed into law. The VA will review claims from impacted Veterans and survivors previously denied for these conditions on or after that date.
The VA has processed its 1 millionth PACT Act-related disability compensation claim and awarded over $5.7 billion to Veterans and survivors since President Biden enacted the bill into law.
Veterans seeking more information about applying for benefits can visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411. There is no charge for filing a claim with VA. For additional assistance with disability claims, Veterans are encouraged to consult a VA-accredited representative or contact their state Veterans affairs office.
For further details on VA cancer care services, visit cancer.va.gov.
